Healthy Nutrition Needs for Women in India, ET HealthWorld

Each March marks two special days: World Obesity Day, which calls for a concerted response to the obesity crisis, and International Women’s Day, which calls for a focus on women’s well-being. In the Indian context, this year’s This month is especially important in connecting the two days. In this context, obesity has not only emerged as a health concern, but also as a threat that poses high economic costs to society. In 2019, before the pandemic, India’s per capita obesity cost was estimated at about 0.8% of GDP. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was recognized that obesity increases susceptibility to the disease and further increases economic costs. Given these facts, it is time for key stakeholders to take a closer look at the evolving health crisis within the economy. The WHO defines adult obesity as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, and morbid obesity corresponds to a BMI of 40 or higher. Simply put, obesity is a chronic disease that results from an energy imbalance in the body. The body, that is, when the energy it takes in from food exceeds the energy expended by physical activity. It is important to maintain a balance between the two to prevent excess fat accumulation. Figure 1 shows the gender-specific trends in obesity incidence in India over the past three decades. It is noteworthy that while obesity rates among women are consistently reported to be higher, the gender gap in this regard is steadily widening. It is also notable that the difference in reported average BMI between urban and rural areas is decreasing faster for women, indicating a faster rise in obesity prevalence in rural areas. Worth it.

The incidence of obesity appears to be more difficult when considering a more specialized form of obesity, abdominal obesity in women. Waist circumference greater than 80 cm is considered abdominal obesity, which has been found to be an important determinant of metabolic disease. Chaudhary & Sharma (2023), using NFHS-5 data, found that the prevalence of abdominal obesity was 40% in women, more than three times the prevalence in men. On the other hand, prevalence using BMI criteria shows narrower gender differences. The incidence is 23% in women and 22% in men. Unless specifically addressed, systemic or abdominal obesity in women can exacerbate the development of non-communicable diseases, affect children’s well-being, reduce labor productivity, and negatively impact women’s labor force participation. , all of which can have serious economic consequences.

Despite the well-established influence of socio-economic, geographic, and demographic factors on the likelihood of obesity, rising obesity rates likely reflect the failure of the food system to provide nutritious diets. This is likely to be reflected. Obesity, the result of overnutrition, results from a shift in the consumption basket toward an excess of foods high in calories, sugar, and fat. More calorie-dense food choices encourage unhealthy consumption. Therefore, it is time to rethink our food systems not from a food security perspective, but from a nutrition security perspective. An urban nutrition survey conducted in 2015-2016 among 5,127 people across seven metropolitan cities in India showed that fat intake was generally above the average acceptable limit across respondents. . This study showed that there are small differences in visible fat intake levels between men and women. This finding points to the need to focus on women’s health and nutrition, as women are more likely to be obese than men even with the same level of fat intake.

Considering the context of the obesity epidemic and changes in nutrition, two specific points require attention. First, although several initiatives have been adopted in India to ameliorate nutritional deficiencies and improve physical activity, the specific focus on addressing overnutrition through dietary changes has been relatively neglected. It has been. Although there is a focus on encouraging and tracking physical activity, more frequent surveys are needed to track changes in women’s dietary patterns over time and across regions. The availability of such data provides further opportunities for evidence-based policymaking. Second, despite attempts to address women’s health, existing systems focus primarily on maternal health and relatively less emphasis on women’s lifecycle health. yeah. Focusing on combating obesity in women requires not only strengthening collaboration at various levels across different sectors, but also awareness of the importance of adequate nutritional intake for women, and the active participation of households in ensuring that women receive adequate nutritional intake. Participation is also required. Educating households about this issue is also essential at this stage. Promoting women’s health through healthy nutritional transitions not only improves women’s well-being, but also has many other desirable ramifications.

This article was written by Ayona Bhattacharjee, Associate Professor of Economics, Institute of International Management, New Delhi.

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